Setting of retorts for use in the distillation of solid carbonaceous substances



Jan. 17, MEQ W. A. BRISTOW ET AL A 2,143,973

SETTING OF RETORTS FOR USE IN THE DISTILLATION OF SOLID CARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES Filed July 26, 1955 '3 Sheets-Sheet l Hl@ FLUE INLET FOR ,4f/FHF /A/LET Fal? #mma @3 Cri/V50 /Nro " www 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 q, 7, wg w. A, BRIS-row ET A'.

SETTING OFVRETORTS FOR USE IN THE DISTILLATION .OF SOLID CRBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES Filed July 2e, 1955 Patented `Fan. 17, 1939 UTED STATES PATENT OFFICE SETTENG 0F RETORTS FOR USE IN THE DESTHJLATION 0F SOLID CARBONACEOUS SUBSTANCES don, England Application July 26, 1935, Serial No. 33,247 En Great Britain August 21, 1934 7 Claims.

This invention relates to settings of vertical retorts for use in the distillation or carbonization of solid carbonaceou's substances such as coal and especially at low or medium nal temperatures.

The invention especially relates to the gas flues for combustion chambers of settings of the kind described in the specication of the prior Patent No. 1,989,459.

The invention has among its objects to improve the conditions of the application of heat in vertical retorts such as those of the prior patent, when the retorts are successively charged in pairs or other number, whereby accommodation is thus available to the temperature gradients in the course of the distillation in adjacent combustion chambers disposed between adjacent retorts of pairs or other number that are simultaneously charged in succession at determined intervals, and thus uniformity in the application of heat in the course of the distillation to the opposite retort walls of the retorts of the pairs or series that are simultaneously charged is ensured.

According to the invention the combustion chambers disposed between the pairs or other number of retorts in the setting that are charged in succession, are provided with two gas conduits, that is to say instead of providing a single gas conduit beneath the central wall between the respective pairs of combustion chambers as in the construction of the prior patent aforesaid, two closely adjacent gas conduits are provided, wherein the gas is separately supplied under independent regulation to the combustion chambers of each pair of combustion chambers at positions between retorts of the adjacent pairs or other number of retorts that are to be simultaneously charged in determined order. Thus where the vertical retorts in the setting are charged and discharged in pairs, two gas conduits are provided for the respective combustion chambers disposed between the second and third retorts, between the fourth and fifth retorts and so on, it being understood that the combustion chambers at the end oi each series of retorts in line in the setting having only one combustion chamber have therefore only one gas conduit from which the gas is supplied. The invention is also applicable where the retorts are intended to be charged in other number such as three or more according to the number of retorts in line in the setting and the practical requirements in particular cases. Or again all the sets of combustion chambers between adjacent retorts in line or other sets of combustion chambers than those necessary for simultaneously charging the retorts in pairs may be provided with two gas conduits if the setting be intended for variation in the number of retorts to be simultaneously charged in determined order.

According to the invention moreover air may be supplied to the combustion chambers that are also supplied with gas from two gas conduits as aforesaid, from an air ue disposed beneath the gas conduits, the air issuing upwardly into the air stabilizing flue disposed between the gas conduits.

The invention comprises the constructional features which are hereinafter described.

The present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings as applied to a construction of retort setting according to the prior patent aforesaid, in which the retorts in line in the setting are intended to be successively charged in pairs, where for example there are siX or other even number of retorts in two series, one series on each side of the central series of recuperator chambers forming part of the setting.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal sectional elevation through a series of alternate combustion chambers and retort chambers of a brickwork setting constructed according to the present invention whereby the retorts or retort sets may be successively charged in pairs. The construction indicated at the middle part of this figure is the same as that described and shown in the specification of the prior patent already referred to.

Figure 1ar is a transverse section through the recuperator and the recuperator chamber on the line I I Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a corresponding sectional plan on the line 2 2 (Figure 1).

Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are detail views on an enlarged scale of the gas conduits and air flues at the lower part of the setting. Figure 3 is a partial sectional elevation through the gas conduits and air flue beneath, on the line 3 3 (Figure 5); Figure 4 is a corresponding partial sectional plan on the line 4 4 (Figure 5) Figure 5 is a partial transverse section on the line 5 5 (Figure 3); Figure 6 is a sectional plan through the gas conduits; and Figure '7 is a detail sectional elevation on the line 1 1 (Figure 6) through one of the gas conduits.

The construction of retort setting to which the present invention is shown applied in the accompanying drawings is a setting similar to that described and illustrated in the specification of the United States patent hereinbefore referred to, being of substantially rectangular form and comprising two series of alternate retort chambers b for the retorts b1 (Figure 2l) and co-extensive combustion chambers a, a, and a series of recuperator chambers c centrally disposed between parallel longitudinal dividing walls e, e separating the series of recuperator chambers c from the series of alternate retort chambers b and combustion chambers a, a. The vertical retorts or retort sets b1 are mounted within the retort chambers b, and the retorts may advantageously be of known kind that are of small diameter i comprising a number of closely adjacent retort cavities formed in a single casting or set, the retort cavities being of gradually increasing diarneter towards the lower end at which the residue of distillation is discharged. The outer walls of the setting d have a non-conducting lining d1 and an inner fire-brick lining d2. The combustion chambers a, a are formed by a centrally disposed wall a4 of. refractory bricks, that may be spaced apart at intervals to form narrow openings extending transversely through the wall, there being provided at each side lateral walls a3, a3 of refractory box or cavity bricks, one lateral wall a3 at each side forming with the centrally disposed wall a4 a combustion chamber a in position between. The combustion chambers a, a are in communication with the recuperator chambers c through the outlets c1 at the upper end of the dividing walls e, e.

'Ihe combustion air may be supplied by a fan through air supply pipes c4 (Figure la) advantageously extending beneath the recuperators, and the combustion air passes through the connected vertical sections of two sets of recuperator pipes c2 mounted in the respective recuperator chambers c, the air being supplied to the respective sets of recuperator pipes c2 through supply pipes extending the length of the setting and in position beneath that part of the setting in which the recuperator chambers c are provided, whereby the air passing through the recuperator pipes is heated, to supply heated combustion air to the combustion chambers a, a at opposite sides of the recuperator chambers c, and thus the heated air is admitted at c3 to the respective air passages a1, in the lower part of the setting, whence the air passes upwardly at each side of the corresponding gas conduit a2 through a series of vertical passages a into the combustion chambers a, a. The supply pipes c4 are connected to the respective base fittings c6. The gas may be admitted to the gas conduits a2 through a length of gas piping g extending from the respective outer longitudinal walls d of the setting, and the gas leaves the gas conduits a2 through a series oi horizontal holes a6 adjacent the vertical air admission holes a5 leading from the air passage al. Waste gas derived from the combustion chambers a, a at each'side'of'the setting passes through the outlets cl into the respective recuperator chambers c, and traverses the respective recuperator chambers passing from one to the other in the series at the lower ends of the chambers through openings c5 provided below supporting arches, whereby the waste gas is eventually discharged through a chimney at one end of the setting. Y Y

En carrying the invention into effect in its application to a setting of vertical retorts of the kind to which the said prior patent relates, accommodation to the temperaturefgradients is available in adjacent retorts of pairs or other number that are to be simultaneously charged at determined intervals. Thus if in a battery of twelve retorts set in parallel series of six retorts in line, the retorts are to be charged in pairs the combustion chambers a, d between the second and third retorts and between the fourth and fth retorts in each series are provided with two gas conduits l, 2 in which the admission of gas is under independent regulation, it being understood that inasmuch as the retorts at the respective ends of the setting have only one combustion chamber a single gas conduit a2 is alone required for the combustion chamber on the outer side of the end retorts.

It will however be understood that the inven-V tion is applicable to batteries of retorts in line in which the retorts are intended to be simultaneously charged in sets of other number than two and that the invention is also applicable to retort settings in which the retorts in line may also be successively charged in units or in sets of any number, in which case* two gas conduits may be provided for all the combustion chambers except the end combustion chamber for the end retorts. Such a construction has the advantage that it may be effectively used for carrying out the distillation by successive charging of the retorts singly or in sets of any desired number as may be desired according to practical requirements.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings the combustion chambers a, a between the second and third retorts as also those between the fourth and fth retorts and so on, are provided with two gas conduits l, 2 and the combustion chambers a, a between the first and second retorts and between the third and fourth retorts and so on are provided with a single gas conduit a2 as usual, similar provision being made as usual for the combustion chamber a at the respective ends of the setting. 'Ihe gas conduits i and E are provided of refractory fire brick, and may be formed in two adjacent parallel lengths of two or more sections respectively connected in line as illustrated in Figures 6 and '7. The gas conduits l and 2 are formed of lengths of hollow blocks of rectangular cross-section mounted together in line and within a single series of base or supporting'refractory fire brick blocks 3 of channel cross-section, extending in line transversely between adjacent retorts or mounted and supported in the setting upon supporting frame members according to usual practice. The arrangement is such that the central wall a and the respective lateral walls a3 of the combustion chambers a, a are supported upon the double gas conduits i, 2.

The inner end sections of the gas conduits l, 2 contact'with the inner wall face of the division wall e and are closed by plugs 4, while the outer end sections of the gas conduits l, 2 are *accommodated withina double iitting or block 5 mounted within the setting adjacentrthe longitudinal outer wall d, where two adjacent cavities 6, 6 are provided in the wall d for therreception of the burner boxes for the respective gas conduits I, 2, to which gas may be supplied from gas supply Vpipes extending the length ofthe setting through perforated branch piping g (Figure 1) extending into and supported at the bottom of the gas conduits.

The gas conduits l 2 are spaced apart to leave an interstitial vertical air stabilizing chamber l' between them into which preheated air passes from the air flue 9 situated beneath and open to the air stabilizing chamber 1. The air flue 9 extends the length of the base blocks 3, and preheated combustion air is admitted into the air flue d through the pipe c3 from one of the recuperators c2 in the adjacent recuperator chamber c. Vertical gas passages 8 are provided in the upper part of the gas conduits i, 2 at intervals in a central line between the central wall a4 and the lateral walls c3, a3. Where two .gas conduits i 2 are provided the central or intermediate wall a4 is advantageously formed massive with refractory solid bricks as illustrated at the right hand side of Figure l, without narrow openings being left to extend transversely through the wall, and the bricks or blocls it in the lowest course are provided of special form which while serving to distribute the weight of the central or intermediate wall upon the two adjacent rows of hollow blocks forming the parallel and adjacent gas conduits i and 2, will pres-ent passages or ports l2 alternately opening at the opposite faces of the central wall a4 and having inclined top faces i3 of opposite inclination in the alternate passages. The blocks it? are advantageously provided in central position with a downwardly extending part li accommodated within the upper part of the air stabilizing chamber l, whereby the passages or ports i2 have a substantially angular form, and are of such shape and position as alternately to open to the combustion chambers c or a at the right or left of the central wall a4, all of the passages or ports i2 opening into the air stabilizing chamber l beneath.

In operation the gas for the gas conduit a2 (Figure l), for the end combustion chamber a, for the gas conduit a2 for the combustion chambers c, c between the rst and second retorts and for the gas conduit i between the second and third retorts for the application of heat to the right-hand side of the second retort, is controlled for the application of heat for the distillation in the rst and second retorts, and that similarly the gas for the combustion chambers by which heat is applied for carrying out the distillation in the third and fourth retorts, and so on may be independently controlled for carrying out distillation in the respective pairs of retorts in line on the successive charging of the respective pairs oi retorts, whereby substantially the same quantity of heat and at the same iinal temperature may be applied runder the same conditions in the course oi the distillation in the retorts of each pair or set simultaneously charged.

It will be understood that the passages or ports i2 may take any other form than hereinbefore described, and that the central wall a4 in the construction provided according to the invention is advantageously constructed of solid brick-- work or otherwise so that the respective combustion chambers a, a at each side of the central wall a4 are entirely independent when the two adjacent gas conduits I, 2 are employed for the purpose of the invention.

It will furthermore be understood that instead of two adjacent gas conduits I, 2 being employed a double gas conduit may be provided in which central air stabilizing passages are formed.

We claimtl. Means for the application of heat in a setting for vertical retorts or retort sets for the distillation of a solid carbonaceous substance such as coal, especially at low or medium nal temperatures, in which the distiilation is carried out on batches that are periodically charged and discharged, ccmprising a pair of independent combustion chambers extending across the setting between adjacent retorts or retort sets, and constructed of two outer vertical walls and an inner or intermediate vertical wall, all of refractory material, forming together a pair of independent combustion chambers between the said outer and inner walls, having respective inlets for combustion air at the lower ends of the combustion chambers and an outlet for the waste gases therefrom at the upper ends, and means for the independent under independent regulation, of fuel to the respective combustion chambers of a pair, comprising two adjacent parallel and independent conduits extending beneath and closing the lo'er ends of the respective combustion from which gas conduits fuel is directlv accessible to the said .respective combustion :obers 2. Means for the application of heat in a setting for vertical retorts or retort sets as specied in claim l, in which a single air flue common to the respective independent combustion chambers of a pair is disposed beneath the two gas conduits, and an air stabilizing chamber is disposed between the gas conduits, through which air stabilizing chamber combustion air may pass from the said air flue on its way to the said respective combustion chambers.

3. Means for the'application of heat in a setting for vertical retorts or retort sets as specified in claim i, in which a single air flue common. to respective combustion chambers of a pair is disposed beneath the two gas conduits and an air stabilizing chamber is disposed between the gas conduits, and in which the inner or intermediate wall between a pair of combustion chambers has at its lower end series of passages alternately communicating with the respective combustion chambers at each side of the said wall and with the said air stabilizing chamber through which combustion air passes from the said air flue on its way to the said respective combustion chambers.

4. Means for the application of heat in a setting for vertical retorts or retort sets as specied in claim l, in which the two gas conduits are set within a channel of structural material that is mounted in the setting, in which channel is disposed lengthwise a single central air flue common to the respective combustion chambers of a pair, and` an air stabilizing chamber is disposed between the gas conduits, and in which the inner or intermediate wall between a pair of combustion chambers has at its lower end two series of ports o-r passages alternately communicating with the respective combustion chambers at each side of the said wall and with the said air stabilizing chamber, through which combustion air passes from the said air ue on its way to the respective combustion chambers.

5. In a setting of vertical retorts or retort sets for the distillation of a solid carbonaceous substance vich as coal, especially at low or medium nal temperatures for carrying out the distillation on batches that are periodically charged and discharged, wherein heat is applied to the respective retorts or retort sets arranged side by side, from interposed pairs oi combustion chambers respectively extending between, and deriving fuel from a gas conduit disposed beneath the respective pairs of combustion chambers, means for the application of heat and for facilitating the operation of the retorts or retort sets whereby they may be separately charged in series for carrying out the distillation with convenience in a deterr mined successive order of the series, in which the combustion chambers of the respective pairs disposed between the end retorts or retort sets of adjacent series yare independent one of the other in the pair, and are equipped for independent supply and regulation of fuel by two adjacent parallel and yindependentgas conduits respectively extending beneath the pairs of independent combustion chambers, from which independent gas conduits fuel is directly accessible to the two independent combustion chambers of the said g respective pairs.

6. In a setting of Vertical retorts or retort sets for the distillation of a solid carbonaceous substance such as coal for carrying out the distillation on batches that are periodically charged and discharged, wherein heat is applied to the Yrespective retorts or retort sets arranged side by side in the setting from interposed pairs of combustion chambers respectively extending between and deriving fuel from a gas conduit disposed beneath the respective pairs of combustion chambers, means for facilitating the operation of the retorts or retort sets, whereby they maybe separatelyy charged rin series for carrying out the distillation with convenience in a determined successive order of the series, in which the combustionr chambers of the respective pairsy disposed between the end retorts or retort sets of adjacent series areindependent one of the other in the pair, and are equipped for independent supply and regulation of fuel by tWo adjacent parallelr and independent gas conduits respectively extendingy beneath the pairs of independent combuston chambers, from which independent gas conduits fuel is directly accessible to the two independent combustion chambers of the said respectivepairs, while air is accessible thereto from ting for vertical retorts or retort sets as specified in claim 1, in which the inner or intermediate f vertical wallof the pair of independent combustion chambers is solid and without ytransverse passages therein extending across from faceto face.

kWHISTON ALFRED BRISTOW.

JOSEPH PEARSON POSTLETHWAITE. 

